Minister Grlić Radman discusses Adriatic, Westen Balkans at Med Dialogues

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman on Friday participated in the 6th Med Dialogues conference, organized by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Italian Institute for International Political Studies

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman on Friday participated in the 6^th Med Dialogues conference, organized by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Italian Institute for International Political Studies.

The minister reflected on the 4^th meeting of the Croatia-Italy Ministerial Coordinating Committee, held this week in Zagreb, which saw discussions on a number of topics of mutual interest, with a special emphasis on the Adriatic and how to preserve and better manage it. On that occasion, Grlić Radman and his Italian counterpart Di Maio exchanged views on establishing exclusive economic zones on either side of the Adriatic. Grlić Radman stressed that this would serve as a good foundation for the cooperation between Croatia, Italy and Slovenia in the Adriatic, which will become a sea of the EU.

The minister also reflected on the EU accession of the Western Balkan countries, saying that it would contribute to their sociopolitical stabilization. “The EU perspective is a catalyst of changes in the region in terms of democratic values, the rule of law, economic reforms and aligning with the fundamental European values,” Grlić Radman said, adding that there was still a lot of work ahead of the Western Balkan countries as these reforms required substantial political will and commitment.

“The EU has shown willingness to assist these countries along their European path. Heads of state and government confirmed this at this year’s Zagreb Summit,” the minister said.

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